Welding torch



Sept 9, 1941- L J. LUCKING WELDING TORCH 2 Shee'is-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1940 INVENTOR 4 [EON/4RD J ZUC/fl/VG +xg-v r f ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1941. L. J, LUCKING WELDIN G TORCH Filed June 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L INVENTOR LEONARD J LUCK/N6 BY W ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELDING TORCH Leonard J. Lucking, Newark, N. J.

Application June 20, 1940, Serial No. 341,454

1 Claim.

This invention relates to welding torches, and more particularly to electric arc-welding torches.

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved arc-welding torch; to obtain convenient adjustment of the electrodes; to enable the points of the electrodes to be adjusted for warp or twist in the electrodes;.to render simple and quick the closing together of electrodes for establishing the arc; to render a hand torch more compact, lighter in weight and less clumsy; to improve the mounting and feed for the electrodes; to provide safeguards for the operator; to secure simplicity of construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevational longitudinal sectional view of my improved welding torch;

Figures 2 to 6 inclusive, are cross-sectional views on lines 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6 respectively of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the torch; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view on somewhat increased scale, on line 8-8 of Figure 2.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawings, the reference numeral I0 designates an insulating elongated handle here shown as cylindrical and, for con- .venience of assembly split longitudinally on a central or diametric plane into two sections suitably held together by screws or bolts H. Extending longitudinally through the handle, preferably at the part thereof where the handle sections are juxtaposed to each other, are two conductors l2, l3 which, within the handle, are parallel to each other and to the axis of the handle, and adequately spaced from each other for insulatory purposes. Both conductors l2, I3 project from the rear end of the handle for attachment of the usual lead-in wires I4, H, for the current supply. One of the conductors, as I2, is interrupted within the handle to act as a switch, and to this purpose, the showing includes a switch section |2' spanning the interrupted length between main portions of said conductor. Said switch section is hinged, as at l4, to one main portion of the conductor and is provided with a sloping forward end face for engagement with a correspondingly sloped face on the contiguous end of the other main portion of the conductor. A spring l6 embedded in an appropriate socket in the handle presses against the switch section I2 to produce a gap between said sloping faces and thus normally break the circuit. A hand-grip lever I1 is located longitudinally of the handle immediately over and longitudinally of said switch section l2. Said lever I1 is pivoted toward the front end of said handle, as by pivot l8, and is situated in part in a groove IS-of the handle into which the switch section also extends. Between said switch section and lever, preferably secured to the lever, is an insulatory knob which will convey movement or pressure on the lever to depress the switch section into its circuit-closing position. Since the free end of the lever is contiguous to and longitudinal of the surface of the handle, it may be conveniently held down and the circuit closed by the operator merely gripping the handle in manipulating the torch.

The forward projecting end of the above-described interrupted conductor I2 is bent with a laterally directed off-set 20 and its most forward extremity flattened at its sides for introduction between parallel leaves 2|, 2| forming part of .a stick or electrode holder 22. A pivot means, such as pin 23 extends through said leaves and flattened end for mounting the electrode holder pivotally in place and for enabling said holder to be swung back and forth as desired or necessary. The offset mentioned is for purposes of enabling the holder and its operating means to clear the other conductor I3 which also projects forwardly from the handle.

The operating means for said holder may conveniently comprise a lever 24 having an upwardly extending portion pivoted at 25 intermediate of its ends to the outer portion of the projecting interrupted conductor l2 beyond the offset 20. A flattening of the conductor in the vicinity of the pivotal mounting of this lever 24 is shown as preferred construction in order that the lever may be prevented from undesired wobbling sidewise. Said lever extends upwardly and then rearwardly over the forward part of handle l0 in a direction longitudinally thereof, thereby constituting a finger-piece 26, for convenient depression by a finger of the same hand of the user which grasps the handle in use. A suitable spring 21 interposed between the fingerpiece and handle keeps the finger-piece normally upward except when actually depressed by the user. The lower end of this holder-operating lever 24, below said pivot 25, is connected by a link 28 to a lower part of the aforementioned leaves 2|, 2| of the holder at a distance from the pivotal mounting of the leaves to the conductor. Consequently, when the user's finger is applied with pressure to depress the finger-piece, the lever swings and conveys an outward push on said link which in turn causes the lower end of the holder to swing in an outward direction.

The particular holder illustrated comprises a tubular socket 29 having a generally upright disposition with said leaves formed as part of a bracket fixed thereon and projecting substantially rearwardly from said tubular socket. A lower forward part of the socket is cut away. thus leaving a lower portion 30 of approximately semi-cylindrical formation next the rear of the holder, and for purposes of this description this lower extension may be referred to as a fixed jaw for the electrode gripping means of the holder. A movable jaw 3| is provided at the front of the holder, this jaw being pivoted at 32 with respect to the tubular portion, as by provision of tangential lugs 33 projecting forwardly therefrom. Above the pivotal support 32 for the movable jaw, a set screw 34 is threaded through the same for end engagement against the forward wall portion of the holder. The movable jaw of the holder may thus be actuated to exert a holding pressure toward the fixed jaw upon an electrode stick 35.

Referring now to the other conductor |3,'attention is directed to the fact that its forwardly projecting portion is longer than the above described conductor l2 and that, after passing the above-described holder, this longer upper conductor is also laterally offset, as at 36, in the same general direction and appropriate amount of the offset of the interrupted or lower conductor. The forward end of this longer conductor I3 is also flattened at its sides for introduction between parallel leaves 37, 31 forming part of a stick or electrode holder 38. Here again, pivot means, such as pin 39 extends through the leaves and flattened end for mounting the electrode holder adjustably in place. That the adjusted positioning may be obtained as well as re-set, I have shown in this instance the pin having a knurled head on one end and threads on the other to thread into a leaf 31 farthest from the headand frictionally bind the leaves against the flattened sides of the conductor end.

In the instance of this more forward holder, a vertical adjustment or feed is provided to compensate for the faster burning of one electrode than the other. Carrying out this feature, it will be observed the bracket of which said leaves are a part, projects rearwardly from a channel member 40 which has a generally up-and-down position and which has the open side of the channel forwardly directed or opposite from the said leaves.' The open side of the channel is lipped inwardlyat its longitudinal edges to slidably retain in thechannel a slide bar 4|. At the front side of this bar exposed through the channel is secured, by welding or otherwise, a tubular socket 42 which will accordingly be slid with the said slide bar 4|. The upper end of the slide bar is shown bent rearwardly to provide a ledge 43 through which passes an unthreaded portion of an adjusting screw 44 arranged parallel to the slide bar and threaded into the bracket of leaves 31, 31. A nut 45 on this adjusting screw, situated beneath said ledge constitutes a. means for maintaining the relative longitudinal immovability of the screw with respect to the ledge. A knurled knob 46 at the upper end of the screw serves a like purpose and also a means for turning the screw to move the bar and socket up and down.

The gripping of the electrode or stick 35 carried by this outer holder 38 is accomplished by suitable means, and is here shown as constructed with a fixed jaw 41, pivoted jaw 48 and set screw 49 identical with the previously described holder.

In order to obtain an arc, it is necessary to momentarily establish contact of the point of one electrode with the point of the other. Thisis ductor in the handle.

accomplished by swinging the one holder so the point end of its electrode moves over to the relatively fixed or forward electrode. The vertical adjustments for the electrodes to cause them to protrude proper distances to accomplish the contact between their points upon swinging as described, is first taken care of by the operator usually before the electric circuit is closed. Thereafter the circuit is closed, the momentary contact established and the are produced. Should the arc become extinguished a convenient finger movement by the operator again establishes contact and the work progresses. Occasionally, as the electrodes burn away and one gets too short with respect to the other, the screw-adjustment to advance or retract it may be manipulated. When both electrodes become too short for convenient or proper use of the torch, they may be loosened in the holders and slid further down and reclamped for further use.

It sometimes occurs that an electrode or stick will warp, and will result in the points passing each other when the one holder is swung, for

which reason I provide an adjustment for tilting one holder laterally with respect to the other. Such lateral tilting or adjustment is preferably employed in connection with the outer or relatively fixed holder. For such purpose, the projecting part of the supporting conductor I3 is rotatable with respect to the part of said con- As shown in Figure 8, the feature is exemplified by providing a reduced longitudinal stem 50 on one part of the conductor projecting into an end socket of the alined part. The stem may be circumferentially grooved as at 5| and receive an inner end of a screw projecting thereinto from the socketed part to prevent longitudinal separation of the parts but permit rotation. A crank arm 52 is fixed to the outer or rotatable part of the conductor, said arm projecting laterally and having a screw 53 freely passing therethrough with a head 54 thereon above the arm to prevent longitudinal displacement and afford means for operating the screw. Said screw 53 projects downwardly through and has threaded engagement with a fixed ledge 55 projecting from the handle. A spring 56 is interposed between the ledge and arm, and thus by turning the screw either way, the arm will swing and the conductor will be correspondingly rotated.

It may be further added, that a suitable shield 51 to protect the hand of the user may be situated at the forward end of the handle, said shield being suitably shaped and apertured and of insulating material or otherwise arranged to avoid short circuit of the current.

Obviously detail changes and modifications may be made in the construction and use of my improved torch, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details illustrated except as specifically recited in the following claim when construed in the light of the prior art.

I claim:

A welding torch comprising a handle, conductors projecting forwardly from said handle, electrode holders on the outer ends of said conductors, one of said holders being pivotally mounted, and means pivoted on one conductor and connected to the holder thereon for swinging the holder with respect to the conductor to which said means is pivoted.

LEONARD J. LUCKING. 

